Violence and threats against Afghanistan’s journalists by the government and security forces are increasing, Human Rights Watch said in a report released today. These attacks put at risk the gains in media freedom in Afghanistan since 2001.

Asia

Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, the Malaysian cartoonist better known as Zunar, has had to put up with a lot over the past couple of years while staying true to his political views. Given the gauntlet of police harassment that he has faced, you would think he was the most dangerous renegade in all of Malaysia rather than an editorial cartoonist exercising his right to free expression.

The Burmese military celebrates its 70th Armed Forces Day this month. Over those seven decades, the military have wreaked incredible carnage on the country, yet staged an ostentatious military parade in the capital, Naypyidaw, with rows of tanks, marching soldiers and rockets. It was an emblem of the slow pace of change in a country that is supposed to be marching towards democracy.